Apple TV no clear winner in streaming, compared to Roku 4, Shield

Apple is probably right when it says the future of television is apps. But the latest version of the Apple TV is still so 2015, especially when compared with competing devices from Roku and Nvidia.

True, the fourth-generation Apple TV, priced at $149 for a 32-GB model and $199 for a 64-GB model, is a well-designed streaming media box, built for the way an increasing number of TV viewers are watching their movies and programs these days, over the Internet.

But so are the Roku 4 and the Nvidia Shield, and they both outdo Apple TV with one big feature that future-proofs them into 2016 and beyond — support for 4K ultra-high-definition TVs.

If you’re thinking of buying one of these media streamers to help you cut the cord with your cable company, the big question you should ask is: How much TV do you watch?

I’ve been testing review units of these media streamers from all three Bay Area companies. Media streamers connect directly to your TV to deliver a cornucopia of digital content, including movies, TV shows, games, music and photos on your biggest home screen.

In truth, you don’t need a streamer, because you can also watch or listen to much of the same content on your mobile phone, tablet, laptop or computer. But video does look better on a big screen.

So the advantage you get is the convenience of connecting directly to your big screen and the ease of the streaming box’s navigation controls. They’re an easy solution if you’re primarily streaming Netflix video, short of buying a new smart TV with built-in Internet access.

Simplified remotes

Apple TV, Roku 4 and Nvidia Shield each have remote controls that break down basic functions to just a few buttons. In particular, the five-button Apple TV remote and the four-button Shield remote feel sleek in your hands and employ a finger-controlled touch surface to easily skim through on-screen selections.

Each remote also uses voice controls to search. I found the Siri-infused Apple TV remote the most responsive. I could even say, “What did he just say?” into the remote and it would instantly replay about 10 seconds of my program.

You can also skip forward, ask it to find a specific movie or ask what the weather is outside. And it instantly recognized the type of TV I own to directly control volume and power.

If you play video games more than you watch TV, you’re better off with Nvidia Shield. This $200 device, which I’ve reviewed previously, holds a big advantage over Roku 4 and Apple TV because it’s loaded with enough computing firepower to handle games like “Batman: Arkham Origins.” (That power also makes Shield the overall fastest device.)

Both Roku 4, which costs $130 and now tops Roku’s roster of models, and Apple TV, offer a selection of more casual games that look great on a big screen, but are probably not going to be the biggest reason you’d want either device.

So it comes down to how much you want to watch movies, TV programs and other Internet-streamed video.

Each taps into their own but similar app universe: the Roku Channel Store, Shield through Google Play and Apple TV, for the first time, through the App Store.

And each has the ones you might already use — stand-alone subscription services like Netflix, HBO Now, CBS All Access, Hulu Plus, MLB and NBA. There are also free videos through YouTube.

But Apple TV has two major omissions. One is Sling TV, a $20-per-month stand-alone service that includes popular pay-TV channels like ESPN, AMC and the Food Network.

And there’s no app for Amazon Prime TV, which, like Netflix, has a selection of movies, TV shows and original programs for its $99 Prime membership customers. Then again, Amazon also wants to sell its $99 Amazon Fire TV streamer, which I have not had a chance to review.

If you’re already in an Apple household, with Macs, iPhones and iPads, you might want to stick with Apple TV. According to the app tracking service appFigures, there are more than 2,600 iOS apps now available for Apple TV, and those include news, sports, games, education and finance apps.

Apple is counting on that growing app universe to become the future of the device, just as apps fueled the success of the iPhone, although the question remains how many will you actually find useful.

But Roku, which is the cheapest option, also has more than 2,500 channels, and Nvidia Shield is built to access Google’s growing Android app store.

No live TV

Pundits expected Apple TV to include a feature that would have made it truly revolutionary — a live TV service that would compete with traditional cable or satellite packages. But Apple’s plan for live TV is reportedly now on hold, and I wonder whether it will ever happen, because it requires the support of so many TV industry stakeholders.

I didn’t find the lack of 4K support a complete deal breaker. Apple rightfully argues that sales of monitors capable of displaying resolution that high are still in the early stages, so they aren’t in that many homes yet. Moreover, there’s not that much to watch in 4K yet.

But prices of those 4K monitors are coming down, so if you’re trying to deck out your living room for the coming years, Roku 4 or Shield would be a better choice. (Roku 4 has a channel that finds programs available in 4K, with many shows and videos from Amazon, YouTube and Netflix.)